SA Water rolls out vroom vroom broom for bp Grand Final

As the bp Adelaide Grand Final roars back onto Adelaide’s streets this month, SA Water crews have been busy preparing vital underground infrastructure to help ensure the safe and successful running of South Australia’s largest motorsport event.

In the lead-up to the event, more than 100 hours of preparation has been carried out beneath the city’s street circuit including cleaning more than 4 kilometres of sewer mains, isolating 52 water valves, temporarily draining a large 750-millimetre water main along Hutt Street between turns 6 and 7, and securing water and wastewater chamber lids to ensure the road surface is ready for racing.

SA Water’s General Manager of Operations and Maintenance Chris Young said like with other street circuits across the world, there’s essential infrastructure beneath Adelaide’s CBD track that requires preparation to ensure optimum race conditions.

“Since the race returned to Adelaide’s CBD streets in 2022, we have re-mapped our underground network and identified new ways to strategically isolate certain valves, reducing the overall number of water valves from 62 to 52,” Chris said.

“Not only has this enables us to update our network mapping, it has also made it easier for our crews to turn off the surrounding network if we experience a break and in turn delivers better outcomes for surrounding customers and businesses, ensuring water and wastewater services can continue during the race.

“Strategically isolating the 52 water valves around the circuit makes it easier for our crews to turn off the surrounding water network if we experience a break.”

Chris said the critical pre-clean works were especially important in the Park Lands this year due to the earlier dry conditions which increased the potential for blocked sewer mains from tree roots.

“Pleasingly, the crews found no significant blockages in the network,” he said.

These works have focused on reducing the risk of service interruptions or infrastructure impacts during race weekend, with an emphasis on ensuring chamber lids are securely in place and level with the track surface.

In addition to the operational preparation, to help fans stay hydrated, SA Water will again provide access to free safe, clean water across the event precinct, including its popular Miss Isla water caravan, 4 Quench Benches and 4 additional drinking water fountains.

Event attendees are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and download SA Water’s free BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) app to easily locate fountains around the Park Lands – including several around the stage area being prepared for Australian legends AC/DC.